Correlates of Anemia in American Blacks and Whites: The REGARDS Renal Ancillary Study

摘要

For unclear reasons, anemia is more common in American blacks than whites. The authors evaluated anemianprevalence (using World Health Organization criteria) among 19,836 blacks and whites recruited in 2003–2007 fornthe REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke Renal Ancillary study and characterized anemia by 3nanemia-associated conditions (chronic kidney disease, inflammation, and microcytosis). They used multivariablenmodels to assess potential causes of race differences in anemia. Anemia was 3.3-fold more common in blacks thannwhites, with little attenuation after adjusting for demographic variables, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidnconditions. Increasing age, residence in the US southeast, lower income, vascular disease, diabetes, hyperten-nsion, and never smoking were associated with anemia. Age, diabetes, and vascular disease were stronger corre-nlates of anemia among whites than blacks (P < 0.05). Among those with anemia, chronic kidney disease was lessncommon among blacks than whites (22% vs. 34%), whereas inflammation (18% vs. 14%) and microcytosis (22%nvs. 11%) were more common. In this large, geographically diverse cohort, anemia was 3-fold more common innblacks than whites with different characteristics and correlates. Race differences in anemia prevalence were notnexplained by the factors studied. Future research into the causes and consequences of anemia in different racialngroups is needed.